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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 17, 2017 18:33:23 GMT -7
Hello! I have a Carmen Ghia. Sweet amp! But have feelings of wanting more eq. Might just be my like of twisting knobs? Im not sure. My question is have any of you cure users prefer it over the ghia? And why? No offense to the ghia i do love its sound with a tone tubby. But it may lack variety?? But im CURE-ious !
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Post by simpleton on Jun 17, 2017 19:04:25 GMT -7
The Ghia is its own sound. A sound that can't be easily duplicated.....it leans more across the pond.
The Cure is familiar. It's a Z twist within a familiar framework that is flexible within a range. More USA USA USA than bangers and mash. The EQ give a few nice voices for variety and moods.
The Ghia was my first Z....and my first love really. It's the first amp that made me feel like I had an original sound. It took a few cabs and speakers to sort out how I liked it, as well as adapting to the percussive feel and string separation. In the end the Ghia stole my heart.
After a few amps I'm settled in the Cure. It feels more familiar....a little less naked or percussive. Before my Ghia I had a Divided by 13 SJT 10/20..... it was a beefed up Deluxe/Tweed thing with reverb. This amp, the Cure, reminds me of the SJT but with more soul/sweetness. Z has a way with letting Amps breath and speak....this amp is a great pedal platform as it can be more neutral.
The Ghia is more unique to me...with a Brake Lite and a few cabs you can have a lot of fun.
The Cure is a bit less unique...but much easier to blend with pedals. It really sings with single notes and feels a bit more alive than the Ghia...feedback flows a bit easier. Also the size of cab is better for me . The studio cab is awesome! I've had 1x10 and head & cab 1x12 ...also a 2x10. I love the Studio cab, slightly tilted up on the face....nice.
The Ghia is the amp I miss the most. Also it's the one I'd most like to get as a long time keeper. But the Cure with the Level control fits my house playing life with plenty of juice for getting out when I can. I just miss the Ghia's unique tone.
The Cure seems like a good fit for affordable and flexible. Ghia for uniqueness ... but I prefer the green jewel lite era of Ghia.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 18, 2017 7:56:53 GMT -7
Thanks for the reply! and description. I just played the ghia last night and I do like it a lot . I have fun with it every time, as i do with most nice amps. Im from the fender camp but have a zwreck as well and love it. I would like to keep the ghia and try more amps but Cant justify a house full of amps!
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Post by tgftele on Jun 18, 2017 8:52:04 GMT -7
I have both the Ghia and the Cure. First, obviously both are excellent amps. I agree with others that the Ghia seems to give me a platform to build a unique sound. Not that the Cure doesn't, but that was a good point in an earlier post about the Cure being akin to an old familiar sound.
To me the Cure is like what I always wanted a late 50's tweed amp to be but they just aren't, along with the Z mojo that just has the perfect response to your hands and pedals, and can sit at the perfect stage and/or room volume for any show you would want to play. The Cure feels more articulate/snappy to me, which I love at times. The overdrive is one of the smoothest for a low-watt 6V6 combo I've ever heard, never really gets raspy or ratty or harsh like say a Princeton can. Very easy to get that tone even in the living room when you're not at a gig, with the power knob.
The Carmen Ghia is similar in that it has that Z mojo I mentioned. I've never wanted for more knobs, just love its sound. I won't expand much here as you have one already.
I wouldn't say I like the Cure more, but it has given me some very versatile and articulate sounds that I have been kind of missing. I cannot see myself letting either one go at this point. If I just had to choose, I would actually have to go with the Carmen Ghia, but I will not be selling the Cure, and it will be joining the Ghia for show duties for sure. I could see taking both and using the Ghia to smooth out a brighter, more lively room, and the Cure if the room is muddier, as I feel like the Cure would cut through and articulate a bit better.
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Post by simpleton on Jun 18, 2017 10:16:38 GMT -7
I have both the Ghia and the Cure. First, obviously both are excellent amps. I agree with others that the Ghia seems to give me a platform to build a unique sound. Not that the Cure doesn't, but that was a good point in an earlier post about the Cure being akin to an old familiar sound. To me the Cure is like what I always wanted a late 50's tweed amp to be but they just aren't, along with the Z mojo that just has the perfect response to your hands and pedals, and can sit at the perfect stage and/or room volume for any show you would want to play. The Cure feels more articulate/snappy to me, which I love at times. The overdrive is one of the smoothest for a low-watt 6V6 combo I've ever heard, never really gets raspy or ratty or harsh like say a Princeton can. Very easy to get that tone even in the living room when you're not at a gig, with the power knob. The Carmen Ghia is similar in that it has that Z mojo I mentioned. I've never wanted for more knobs, just love its sound. I won't expand much here as you have one already. I wouldn't say I like the Cure more, but it has given me some very versatile and articulate sounds that I have been kind of missing. I cannot see myself letting either one go at this point. If I just had to choose, I would actually have to go with the Carmen Ghia, but I will not be selling the Cure, and it will be joining the Ghia for show duties for sure. I could see taking both and using the Ghia to smooth out a brighter, more lively room, and the Cure if the room is muddier, as I feel like the Cure would cut through and articulate a bit better. GREAT POST! After sleeping... I woke up thinking two things. 1). I couldn't part with the Cure. It's to perfect for the house and my ears. It's so familiar that I can forget to be impressed-it's always doing what I want or hear. The Ghia challenged my ears and showed me things I wasn't hearing or looking for. 2). The Cure is Very Vintage sounding....A lot like old Gibson/Epiphone amps I've played. But without the weird quirks that come with old amps, and quieter noise floor, sturdier cabinet. I would pick the Cure between the two - which I did - because I play at home ALOT. I loved the Ghia...one tone knob forced me to use my guitar knobs more and connected me to my playing, hands, and ears more. The Ghia was like a teacher and was very responsive to speaker, tube, guitar, pickups etc.... The Ghia made me work a bit to get what I wanted The Cure felt perfect as it came ....still might find a Ghia head one day...I should of kept the Mini Ghia I had.....dang it.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 18, 2017 12:14:06 GMT -7
Thanks! Im going to try out a cure for myself! And make a decision of which to hang on to. I wish i could keep them all but i just feel guilty of having Too many amps and my wreck certainly isn't leaving! But i want a combo grab and go -so ill see soon!
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Post by tgftele on Jun 18, 2017 12:30:01 GMT -7
Grab n go points go to the Cure--it's a dream to cart around!
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jwmanz
Junior Member
Posts: 50
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Post by jwmanz on Jun 19, 2017 8:10:26 GMT -7
I too was interested in both. Now I wasn't able to actually get my hands on a Ghia to try out. What won me over to the Cure was my interest in trying out a more American flavored amp after playing a Vox for awhile and the level control. It certainly was the right decision for me. Playing mostly at home and monthly at church, the level control is a priceless feature. Plus the starting price of the Cure is fantastic.
I hope to try out a Ghia someday, but I also know it will have to be with an attenuator.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 19, 2017 15:59:20 GMT -7
Yes i like the American tones! But i have a cure on the way so ill give my opinion s Once i play it a while.
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Post by tpritchard on Jun 20, 2017 13:55:14 GMT -7
A few more thoughts from another Cure and Ghia owner. I totally agree with the above statements about the Ghia being a super unique amp with one of the most 3 dimensional sounds ever and great string separation. All Z amps have their own flavor and aren't apples to apples with vintage amp comparisons, but the Ghia has always had equal parts Vox, Fender, Marshall influence to me, leaning more toward one camp or the other depending on how the two controls are set. The cleans can actually sound pretty blackface-y, light breakup chimes and jangles like a vox, and gained up it roars like a small plexi. Approximately, anyhow. Ultimately it's a Z, and has that characteristic mid emphasis that allows it to sit well in a mix and superb note separation.
The Cure attracted me due to the great mid breakup tones at any level. I picked one up and have definitely fallen in love with it. I won't sell my Ghia, but they'll both stay in the stable. The Cure's tonality lies somewhere between a tweed and a blackface. But again, like the Ghia, if you gain it up, it really starts reacting more like a "British" amp to my ears. The drive is remarkable. Equal parts chime and crunch, with great note/string separation. I do a lot of recording, and I have never found an amp that is easier to use in the studio. Perhaps this is somewhat attributable to the Z-12 speaker. I honestly haven't tried it through another cab yet. I'm stuck on the studio cab. Just a great design.
There is overlap between the two, but they are definitely different sonic machines. If you want great drive at low volumes without pedals, The Cure is your ticket. It's admittedly more versatile too (thought the 2 interactive knobs on the Ghia give up more than most expect).
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 22, 2017 11:59:42 GMT -7
Got the Cure! What an amp! Played if for hours after unpacking! Im will be selling the ghia. Ive had fun with it , but the cure is more my tone! And the level control is wonderful! Ive heard people say the cure lacks low end. And that may be true to some extent. I had to lower the treble quite a bit. But once i did the amp sound was balanced and beautiful! I may put a hempcone speaker in it to soften the treble more. But the knob worked fine in cutting it back. I think sometimes people leave there amp settings where they think they should be rather than listen- Im a listener and will crank those knobs in all directions To my delight! Again nothing against ghia - she's lovely! But the cure is it for me - grab and go amp!! And for at home!!! Its neat how the amps all sound different! I guess thats the point-!
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Post by LT on Jun 24, 2017 8:13:17 GMT -7
I may put a hempcone speaker in it to soften the treble more. But the knob worked fine in cutting it back. I have a C-Rex coming and am hoping it will soften the treble a little and give a bit more headroom, being it's about 3db more efficient than the Z speaker (which is an excellent speaker in it's own right). I would have already had the C-Rex installed, but the one I received had a bent rim on the frame. It must have taken a fall during shipment. The replacement should be here early next week.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 24, 2017 8:58:01 GMT -7
I may put a hempcone speaker in it to soften the treble more. But the knob worked fine in cutting it back. I have a C-Rex coming and am hoping it will soften the treble a little and give a bit more headroom, being it's about 3db more efficient than the Z speaker (which is an excellent speaker in it's own right). I would have already had the C-Rex installed, but the one I received had a bent rim on the frame. It must have taken a fall during shipment. The replacement should be here early next week. I just put a crex in two days ago- And it sounds great! I might slurge and try a tt purple haze.. I still cut the mids back and im happy!!
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Post by djcakadave on Jun 24, 2017 9:49:42 GMT -7
For me the Cure is the last amp I will ever own..................I can't find a fault
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